FuelCellsWorks

The 200 kW SOFC-MGT Combined-Cycle Power Generation System

Tokyo–Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has achieved 3,000 cumulative hours of operation – unprecedented in Japan – of a 200 kilowatt (kW) class combined-cycle power generation system incorporating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and a micro gas turbine (MGT).

MHI began developing the SOFC-MGT combined-cycle power generation system in 2004 at MHI’s Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works under consignment by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). In 2007 the system marked a maximum power generation capacity of 229 kW, unprecedented in a system of this kind at that time, and confirmed 52.1% power generation efficiency (LHV: lower heating value, power output terminal), also the highest level in this class. The company has now achieved the 3,000-hour milestone.

Based on this success, MHI will pursue further reliability enhancement and system downsizing. The company is also working toward a business/industrial-use hybrid system* combining SOFCs and an MGT in joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation. MHI further plans to develop a system for use by power generation companies.

SOFCs are ceramic-based fuel cells that operate at a high temperature above 900 degrees Celsius (1,650 degrees Fahrenheit) and produce electricity directly by chemical reaction between the hydrogen and carbon oxide removed from city gas and oxygen in the air. The SOFC-MGT combined-cycle power generation system utilizes the unreacted portion of city gas exhausted from the SOFC module and hot air likewise discharged from the SOFC module. The gas and air from the SOFC module are used to drive an MGT to generate electricity. This two-stage power generation system is able to achieve significantly higher power generation efficiency than conventional fossil-fuel power generation systems, and will thus contribute to the realization of a very high-efficiency power generation system.

MHI has been vigorously pursuing various power generation methods to reduce CO2 emissions, including high-efficiency thermal power generation systems, nuclear power systems, and renewable energies such as wind power and photovoltaic cells, and sees the SOFC technology as a promising effective way. As higher power generation efficiency is expected by combining SOFCs with other power generation systems – ranging from small-scale (under one MW) to large (several hundreds of MW) – MHI views the development of large-scale combined cycle power generation systems using SOFCs as a key challenge and powerful trump card. As to business/industrial-use hybrid power generation system combining SOFCs and an MGT for under one MW, MHI has been conducting joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation since 2008. Toyota has an affiliate company, Toyota Turbine Systems Inc., which sells MGTs.

* A hybrid system capable not only of power generation but also of thermal supply such as hot water and steam.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (TSE: 7011, ‘MHI’), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world’s leading heavy machinery manufacturers. MHI’s diverse lineup of products and services encompasses shipbuilding, power plants, chemical plants, environmental equipment, steel structures, industrial and general machinery, aircraft, space rocketry and air-conditioning systems. For more information, please visit the MHI website at www.mhi.co.jp.

 * Cutting-Edge Fuel Cell Technology
 * Lowers Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
 * Maintains Productivity With Convenient In-Plant Refueling Stations

LATHAM, N.Y.– The nation’s second largest Coca-Cola bottler will install 40 hydrogen-powered forklifts at its Charlotte, North Carolina production center. Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, announced today that it will provide its class-1 sit down counterbalanced GenDrive(TM) fuel cell solution to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated early in 2010.

“With these fuel cell materials handling units, we will be able to maintain productivity, decrease operating costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent,” said Coca-Cola Consolidated spokesman Lauren C. Steele. “We assessed many different technologies for our materials handling fleet and believe the Plug Power fuel cell units give us the best overall solution.”

In deciding to convert its material handling fleet from internal combustion to a cleaner technology, Coca-Cola Consolidated considered several options. One alternative, batteries, would allow the company to move to electric lift trucks, but consumed valuable facility space with battery charging equipment and infrastructure. With batteries also came operator downtime and decreased productivity as time is spent changing and charging the power source.

With Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cell, the soft drink manufacturer is able to maintain productivity, cut operating costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Operators are able to run equipment at full speed for an entire shift, thus maximizing efficiency. Compact hydrogen fueling stations are conveniently located throughout the facility, allowing for easy refueling. Successful product demonstrations under rigorous conditions proved GenDrive as a commercially viable power alternative for Coca Cola Consolidated’s high-throughput operations.

“Coca-Cola Consolidated’s acceptance of Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cell solution again emphasizes the commercial readiness of this product for the material handing market,” said Tom Hoying, Vice President of Sales for Plug Power Inc. “Plug Power was able to provide this significant customer with a proven solution allowing them to lower operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions without sacrificing productivity.”

About Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable energy solutions, integrates fuel cell technology into motive and continuous power products. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world. For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.

President Stephen C. Ainlay discusses new fuel cell being tested at Beuth House.

There was a lot of energy in the great room of Beuth House Wednesday as a host of business leaders and politicians joined College officials to officially celebrate a new fuel cell being tested in one of Union’s Minerva houses.

The College was selected by Plug Power Inc. of Latham, N.Y. as the host site of a 5-kilowatt cell, GenSys, which will convert natural gas into electricity and high-quality heat for the 30 students living in Beuth.

The GenSys fuel cell in the basement of Beuth House.

The project is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced last November. Plug Power and National Grid, a natural gas and electric utility, will test the system in the real-life operating conditions at Beuth and use the data collected to determine system refinements for incorporation into the next-generation system design.

President Stephen C. Ainlay told several dozen people in the audience, including Assemblymen Jim Tedisco ’72 and George Amedore, that the project is well-suited to the College’s commitment to sustainability. He also commended all of the parties involved in the unique project.

“This is the type of innovation we in the Capital Region have come to expect,” he said.

Susan Crossett, vice president of energy solutions services for National Grid, said the project is a great educational tool to observe how new energy sources are developed. Ballston Spa High School and Schenectady Museum will engage students in fuel cell education and field trial data analysis as part of the project.

“This technology represents a promising clean energy technology that will play a significant role in the not too distant future,” she said.

President Stephen C. Ainlay, right, is joined by Susan Crossett of National Grid, Kerry Orlyk of Schenectady Museum, Joe Dragone, superintendent of Ballston Spa Schools and Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power, at ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power, called Union a perfect fit to host the fuel cell, which is located in the basement of Beuth.

“Through real-world field trials, such as this project at Union, alternative energy solutions for the everyday consumer move closer to reality.”

The City’s Council ambitious pilot project to rely on hydrogen-powered vehicles has hit a roadblock and only eight of the original 15 will be delivered by the November deadline.

Deputy Mayor Klaus Bondam, who heads the technical and environment administration, announced earlier this year that 15 hydrogen-powered cars would be on the roads before the UN climate conference in December.

Norwegian company Think was due to deliver 13 and French company Mega would provide two work vehicles.

The electric vehicles were to be adapted using hydrogen fuel cells supplied by Herning-based company H2 Logic, to allow the vehicles to travel much further on a single charge than regular electric cars.

H2 Logic was due to deliver the fuel cells to Think for installation, but because the Norwegian company’s recent financial troubles, H2 Logic has been given the task of installing the fuel cells themselves.

‘But it’s not a job we wish to continue in the long-term. We don’t produce cars; we produce fuel cells for car manufacturers,’ said H2 Logic’s Jacob Krogsgaard to science weekly Ingeniøren.

Council project manager Casper Harboe told The Copenhagen Post that because of developments, the original contract was changed so now only eight hydrogen cars are expected to be delivered – six from Think and two from Mega.

Harboe said the council is continuing with its plan of having 85 percent of municipal vehicles running on electricity or hydrogen cells by 2015. To make up for receiving fewer hydrogen cars than planned, the city council will purchase 25 electric vehicles for their new fleet.

He added that the city has already bought 17 cars and a further eight will be purchased in the next few weeks. The new vehicles will be supplied by the Fiat, Modec and Citroen companies.

The new alternative fuel fleet will be accompanied by a limited infrastructure of charging stations around the city, before the council presents its extensive infrastructure plan early next year.

MOSCOW– President Dmitry Medvedev called for paying more attention to the development of hydrogen energy.

“All countries are working on this, but we do not mention it among our priorities. That’s not great,” Medvedev said at a joint meeting of the commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy and the Presidium of the president’s Council on Science, Technology and Education on Wednesday.

“There are some innovative initiatives, but there is the opinion that we will begin mass commercial development somewhat later than the working group has projected,” Minister of Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina said.

At the same time, she did not rule out “possible breakthroughs” in this field.

Medvedev noted that other innovative energy solutions might not produce immediate results.

He said earlier that alternative energy sources would sooner or later replace traditional hydrocarbons.

“There is no doubt that hydrogen fuel, for the development of which billions of U.S. dollars are spent, will be obtained. This will be done for the sole purpose of not buying our oil,” Medvedev said.

“Budget organisations waste energy just as much,” he added.

Medvedev said the state should set an energy efficiency example for others to follow.

“When promoting the energy saving policy, the state should begin with itself, i.e. with state-owned organisations,” the president said.

“We should determine strict indicators and norms and ensure effective control over compliance with them,” he said.

Medvedev stressed the need to “use tangible financial incentives” in order to improve energy efficiency.

He said the country needs new studies in the field of renewable energy and new hydrogen and nuclear energy technologies.

The Energy Ministry is considering providing additional funding for the development of renewable energy in the country.

Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said earlier his ministry had received “serious” political support from President Dmitry Medvedev, who had chaired a meeting on energy and environmental issues earlier this week, and “will finance the development of renewable energy sources in Russia”.

Under the plan worked out by the ministry together with other interested agencies, the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy balance should grow to 4.5 percent by 2020.

The European Union has set itself the goal of bringing this index to 20 percent by the same time.

Russia’s capabilities for developing renewable energy appear to be much bigger than those in Europe.

The technical potential of renewable energy production in Russia is estimated at 4.6 billion tonnes of conventional fuel a year, which is five times more than the consumption of all fuel and energy resources in the country.